playful

adjective

play·​ful ˈplā-fəl How to pronounce playful (audio)
1
: full of play : frolicsome, sportive
a playful kitten
2
playfully adverb
playfulness noun

Examples of playful in a Sentence

She's an old dog, but she's still very playful. He had a playful expression on his face. a playful tone of voice You're certainly in a playful mood! She gave him a light playful slap on the knee.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Specialty cocktails flowed throughout the night, while Unfortunate Portrait created live custom sketches, bringing a playful touch. Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2025 Traversing quaint New York street corners and rooftops, Vincent serenades his girl with playful bars about love, commitment and the important building blocks of a good relationship. Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 27 Oct. 2025 Love Island is light-hearted and playful in many ways, but The Traitors pushes you into a space where every move matters. Jenni Fink, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025 More wearable than the Met Gala but less stuffy than the Oscars, the Vogue World dress code leaves room for some playful, riskier looks. Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 27 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for playful

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of playful was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Playful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/playful. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

playful

adjective
play·​ful ˈplā-fəl How to pronounce playful (audio)
1
: full of play : fond of playing
a playful kitten
2
: humorous
a playful tone of voice
playfully adverb
playfulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on playful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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